Apparatus for setting the spacing of a free standing range from a floor

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for setting the spacing of a free standing range relative to a floor includes a base component for contacting the floor, a threaded element, and a winding follower. The winding follower extends into the helical recess of the threaded element such that the winding follower travels progressively further along the helical recess of the threaded element. A blocking member engages the winding follower during travel of the winding follower along the helical recess of the threaded element to resist a disengagement movement.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a Divisional, under 35 U.S.C. §121, of U.S.application Ser. No. 10/988,247, filed Nov. 12, 2004.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to an apparatus for setting the spacing of anappliance from a surface. More particularly, the invention relates to anapparatus for setting, leveling and maintaining the spacing of anappliance from a floor or other surface.

2. Discussion of the Prior Art

Free standing ranges, dishwashers, and other appliances are oftenequipped with floor support arrangements that can be deployed to ensurethe level support of the appliance on a floor or other support surface.It is desirable to have a level support for an appliance to promote, forexample, efficient operation of the appliance or to ensure the optimumorientation for opening and closing doors or access lids.

Various floor support arrangements have been proposed for setting theheight of each corner of the appliance. One such conventional floorsupport arrangement includes a floor-contact foot secured to the lowerend of a threaded rod that itself is threaded into an aperture on theappliance. The aperture may be configured as an annular cut out in abottom structure of the appliance and the aperture edge has a diametersized relative to the threaded rod such that the aperture edge threadsonto the threaded rod in a manner similar to the threading of a nut ontoa bolt. (04) U.S. Pat. No. 4,068,815 discloses a self-locking supportmechanism for leveling an appliance relative to the floor. The deviceincludes a rotatable cam member having a pivot point, a cam surface tocontact the floor for height adjustment, and a radius surface relativeto the pivot point. The cam member rotates by a pin through the pivotpoint and a slot in the support member, and the pin is slidably movablewithin the slot. The slot and support end wall are spaced from eachother and converge toward each other in a direction away from the floorso that upon rotating the cam member, the pin is moved within the slotaway from the floor and the cam member radius surface abuts the supportend wall to lock the cam member in the adjusted disposition. (05) Inconnection with the task of setting the spacing from a floor of anappliance such as a free standing range, it would be desirable if such afloor support arrangement was stable and could resist any movementthereof acting to dismount or disengage the floor support arrangementfrom the appliance.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided an apparatusfor setting the spacing of an appliance from a surface such as floor,wherein the inventive apparatus resists any movement thereof acting todismount or disengage it from the appliance. (07) In accordance with oneaspect of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus forsetting the spacing of a free standing range from a floor, wherein thefree standing range is of the type having an aperture for threadedmounting of the spacing apparatus. The floor spacing setting apparatusincludes a threaded bolt-like body, a foot at one end of the bolt forresting on the floor, and a winding follower at the location of theaperture of the free standing range that threads onto the bolt when thebolt is rotated into the aperture of the free standing range. Also, thefloor spacing setting apparatus includes a nip formed between thethreads of the bolt through which the winding follower passes as thebolt is rotated into the aperture of the free standing range, whereby,once the winding follower and the bolt have been threaded together, thebolt can then only be unthreaded from the free standing range by guidingthe winding follower through the nip. (08) In accordance with a furtheraspect of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus forsetting the spacing of an appliance from a stand off surface thatincludes a base component for contacting the stand off surface, a firstthreaded element, a winding follower, and a blocking member. The firstthreaded element has an axis, a radially projecting winding having anoverall helical shape, and a helical recess formed by the radiallyprojecting winding. The first threaded element is connectable to aselected one of the appliance and the base component and the windingfollower being connectable to the other of the appliance and the basecomponent. The winding follower extends into the helical recess of thefirst threaded element such that the winding follower travelsprogressively further along the helical recess of the first threadedelement during an engagement movement in which the winding follower andthe first threaded element are rotated relative to one another. Thewinding follower retreats progressively along the helical recess of thefirst threaded element during a disengagement movement in which thewinding follower and the first threaded element are rotated relative toone another in a direction opposite to their relative rotation during anengagement movement. The blocking member engages the winding followerduring travel of the winding follower along the helical recess of thefirst threaded element to resist at least one of an engagement movementand a disengagement movement.

In accordance with additional details of the further aspect of thepresent invention, the blocking member includes a transverse surfaceextending transverse to the travel path of the winding follower alongthe helical recess of the first threaded element, the transverse surfaceof the blocking member for engaging the winding follower to resistretreating travel of the winding follower along the helical recess ofthe first threaded element. Also, the blocking member includes a rampsurface that, as viewed in the travel direction of the winding followerduring an engagement movement, progressively reduces the extent of thehelical recess of the first threaded element perpendicular to itshelical direction and the transverse surface of the blocking member isdisposed downstream of the ramp surface in the travel direction of thewinding follower during an engagement movement, whereby, during anengagement movement, the winding follower travels successively past theramp surface and then past the transverse surface and, thereafter,during a disengagement movement effecting retreating travel of thetravel follower, the winding follower is engaged by the transversesurface to resist retreating travel of the winding follower along thehelical recess of the first threaded element.

In accordance with a preferred feature of the further aspect of thepresent invention, the blocking member includes a pair of ramp surfacesdisposed oppositely to one another at a location along the helicalrecess of the first threaded element. Each ramp surface extends, asviewed in the travel direction of the winding follower during anengagement movement, increasingly toward the other opposed ramp surfacesuch that the extent of the helical recess of the first threaded elementtransverse to its helical direction between the opposed ramp surfaces isprogressively reduced and the transverse surface of the blocking memberis disposed downstream of the opposed ramp surfaces as viewed in thetravel direction of the winding follower during an engagement movement,whereby, during an engagement movement, the winding follower travelssuccessively past the ramp surface and then past the transverse surfaceand, thereafter, during a disengagement movement effecting retreatingtravel of the travel follower, the winding follower is engaged by thetransverse surface to resist retreating travel of the winding followeralong the helical recess of the first threaded element.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

Having briefly described the present invention, the same will becomebetter understood from the following detailed description, made withreference to the appended figures of the drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a front plan view of a free standing range having a firstembodiment of the stand off adjustment apparatus of the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the free standing range of FIG. 1and showing the support of the free standing range by the embodiment ofthe stand off adjustment apparatus of the present invention on a floor;

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the bottom tray of the freestanding range of FIG. 1 and showing four units of one preferredembodiment of the stand off adjustment apparatus of the presentinvention each secured to a respective corner location of the bottomtray;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged perspective view of the first threaded element ofthe embodiment of the stand off adjustment apparatus of the presentinvention shown in FIGS. 1-3;

FIG. 5 is a front plan view of the first threaded element of theembodiment of the stand off adjustment apparatus of the presentinvention shown in FIGS. 1-4;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged perspective view of the threaded engagement of thefirst threaded element and the winding follower of the embodiment of thestand off adjustment apparatus of the present invention shown in FIGS.1-5 and showing the travel of the winding follower between the pair ofoppositely disposed ramp surfaces of the first threaded element;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged perspective view of the threaded engagement of thefirst threaded element and the winding follower of the embodiment of thestand off adjustment apparatus of the present invention shown in FIGS.1-5 and showing the winding follower after it has traveled beyond theabutment surfaces of the first threaded element;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged perspective view of the threaded engagement of thefirst threaded element and the winding follower of another embodiment ofthe stand off adjustment apparatus of the present invention and showingthe travel of the winding follower between the single ramp surface ofthe first threaded element; and

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

As seen in FIG. 1, which is a front and a partial perspective view of afree standing range 10 including one embodiment of the stand offadjustment apparatus of the present invention. The free standing range10 is illustrated with a front control panel 11, a top control panel 13and a door panel 15, all in a front plan view and a cooking surface 17in a perspective view for ease of illustration. The free standing range10 includes a bottom tray 12 and the free standing range 10 is to besupported on a respective surface—namely, a floor 14—such that thebottom tray 12 is at a predetermined stand off spacing or distance fromthe floor 14. The bottom tray 12 of the free standing range 10 has agenerally four-cornered shape defined by a front pair of corners 18, asseen in FIG. 1, and a rear pair of corners 20, only one of which isshown in FIG. 2, which is a side elevational view of the free standingrange 10. Each corner of the pair of front corners 18 and the pair ofthe rear corners 20 of the bottom tray 12 is supported at a spacing fromthe floor 14 by a respective stand off adjustment apparatus of thepresent invention—namely, a first embodiment of the stand off adjustmentapparatus of the present invention, hereinafter designated as the standoff adjustment apparatus 22.

Reference is had to FIG. 3, which is an exploded perspective view of thebottom tray 12 of the free standing range 10 showing each stand offadjustment apparatus 22 in its operative position at a respective cornerof the bottom tray 12. A total of four (4) units of the stand offadjustment apparatus 22 preferably form the respective stand offadjustment apparatus group for the free standing range 10, although itis to be understood that a greater or lesser number of units of thestand off adjustment apparatus of the present invention can be providedas desired for supporting the respective free standing range or otherappliance. For example, one corner could be a fixed support or post withthe other three corners including the adjustment apparatus 22.

As will be described in more detail hereinafter, each stand offadjustment apparatus 22 is configured in coordination with the otherstand off adjustment apparatus 22 in the group such that the freestanding range 10 is collectively supported by the stand off adjustmentapparatus group in a level (non-tilting) orientation at a predeterminedstand off spacing above the floor 14. Moreover, the stand off adjustmentapparatus 22 of the present invention advantageously minimizes the riskthat one or more of the stand off adjustment apparatus 22 in therespective stand off adjustment apparatus group supporting the freestanding range 10 or other appliance may inadvertently becomedisattached from the free standing range 10 or other appliance.Furthermore, the stand off adjustment apparatus 22 of the presentinvention advantageously provides an indication to the applianceconsumer or installer that the stand off adjustment apparatus 22 hasbeen properly installed.

As seen generally in FIGS. 3-5, and as seen in more detail in FIG. 6,which is an enlarged perspective view of a portion of the stand offadjustment apparatus 22, each stand off adjustment apparatus 22 includesa base component 24, a first threaded element 26, a winding follower 28(FIG. 6), and a blocking member 30. The base component 24 is operable tocontact the stand off surface—i.e., the floor 14. The first threadedelement 26 is connectable to a selected one of the appliance (i.e., thefree standing range 10) and the base component 24 and the windingfollower 28 is connectable to the other of the appliance and the basecomponent 24 and, with more particular regard to the embodiment of thestand off adjustment apparatus of the present invention, the firstthreaded element 26 preferably is connected with the base component 24by being integrally formed with the base component 24 and the windingfollower 28 preferably is connected to the bottom tray 12 of the freestanding range 10 by being integrally formed with the bottom tray 12.

The first threaded element 26 (FIGS. 5 and 6) has an axis 32, a radiallyprojecting winding 34 having an overall helical shape, and a helicalrecess 36 formed by the radially projecting winding 34. The winding 34has a nominal surface that defines the overall helical shape of thewinding in that the nominal surface, with the exception of a pair ofprojections as will be described later, winds in a continuous axialspiral from a top termination point to a bottom termination pointadjacent the respective end of the first threaded element 26 at whichthe base component 24 is connected.

The winding follower 28 (FIG. 6) is configured to extend into thehelical recess 36 of the first threaded element 26 such that the windingfollower 28 travels progressively further along the helical recess 36 ofthe first threaded element 26 during an engagement movement in which thewinding follower 28 and the first threaded element 26 are rotatedrelative to one another. Conversely, during a disengagement movementwherein the first threaded element 26 is rotated in a direction oppositeto its rotation during an engagement movement, the winding follower 28executes a retreating movement progressively along the helical recess 36of the first threaded element 26.

Thus, to dispose each stand off adjustment apparatus 22 in its operativeposition on a respective corner of the free standing range, the firstthreaded element 26 of the stand off adjustment apparatus 22 is rotatedin an engagement movement relative to a respective associated one of thepair of front corners 18 and the pair of the rear corners 20 of thebottom tray 12 such that the winding follower 28 at the respectiveassociated corner is engaged by the first threaded element 26 andthereafter travels progressively further along the helical recess 36 ofthe first threaded element 26. The spacing between the base component24, which contacts the floor 14, and the bottom tray 12 of the freestanding range progressively decreases in correspondence with the travelof the winding follower 28 progressively further along the helicalrecess 36 of the first threaded element 26. The stand off spacing of thefree standing range 10 from the floor 14 can consequently be set at adesired spacing by controlling the extent of travel of winding follower28 along the helical recess 36 of the first threaded element 26 and, asis described hereinafter, the stand off adjustment apparatus 22advantageously resists any disengagement movement of the stand offadjustment apparatus 22 once the desired extent of travel of the windingfollower 28 along the helical recess 36 of the first threaded element 26has been reached.

FIG. 6 illustrates the positions of the respective winding follower 28of one corner of the pair of front corners 18 and the respective firstthreaded element 26 during an engagement movement in which the windingfollower 28 is traveling along the helical recess 36 of the firstthreaded element 26. During an engagement movement, as the windingfollower 28 approaches the end of its predetermined extent of travelalong the helical recess 36 of the first threaded element 26, thewinding follower 28 moves into contact with the blocking member 30 andsubsequently, in traveling further along the helical recess 36 of thefirst threaded element 26, the winding follower 28 travels out ofcontact with the blocking member 30. The blocking member 30 is operableto engage the winding follower 28 during travel of the winding follower28 along the helical recess 36 of the first threaded element 26 toresist at least one of an engagement movement and a disengagementmovement and, with more particular regard to the embodiment of the standoff adjustment apparatus of the present invention shown in FIGS. 1-7,the blocking member 30 is operable to engage the winding follower 28during a disengagement movement of the winding follower 28 along thehelical recess 36 of the first threaded element 26 to resist suchdisengagement movement.

The rotation of the first threaded element 26 relative to the associatedcorner 18 of the bottom tray 12 is ceased once the appliance 10 is at adesired height. The same engagement movement is then repeated for theremaining three of the four (4) units of the stand off adjustmentapparatus 22 that form the respective stand off adjustment apparatusgroup for the free standing range 10, whereupon the free standing range10 is then leveled and disposed on the floor 14 with the base components24 of the four (4) units of the stand off adjustment apparatus 22 eachresting on the floor 14. The free standing range 10 then has a levelcooking surface 17.

Any rotation of the first threaded element 26 relative to its associatedcorner of the bottom tray 12 in a direction opposite to its rotationduring an engagement movement will act as a disengagement movementcausing the winding follower 28 to retreat progressively along thehelical recess 36 of the first threaded element 26. In accordance withthe present invention, once the winding follower 28 has traveled out ofcontact with the blocking member 30 to conclude an engagement movement,the stand off adjustment apparatus 22 advantageously resistsdisengagement movement of the stand off adjustment apparatus 22 thatwould effect retreating travel of the winding follower 28 past theblocking member 30.

The blocking member 30 is operable to engage the winding follower 28during its travel along the helical recess 36 of the first threadedelement 26 to resist at least one of an engagement movement and adisengagement movement and, more specifically in connection with theembodiment of the stand off adjustment apparatus of the presentinvention shown in FIGS. 1-7, the blocking member 30 is operable toengage the winding follower 28 during retreating travel of the windingfollower 28 along the helical recess 36 of the first threaded element 26to resist the disengagement movement. The blocking member 30, in theembodiment of the stand off adjustment apparatus of the presentinvention, is configured on the first threaded element 26 and theblocking member 30 includes a transverse surface extending transverse tothe travel path of the winding follower 28 along the helical recess 36of the first threaded element 26. The transverse surface of the blockingmember 30 engages the winding follower 28 to resist retreating travel ofthe winding follower 28 along the helical recess 36 of the firstthreaded element 26 and, in the embodiment of the stand off adjustmentapparatus of the present invention shown in FIGS. 1-5, the blockingmember 30 includes a pair of oppositely disposed ramp surfaces 38A, 38Band a pair of abutment surfaces 40A, 40B each associated with the rampsurface 38A, 38B, respectively, whereupon the pair of abutment surfaces40A, 40B form the transverse surface of the blocking member 30 thatengages the winding follower 28 to resist retreating travel of thewinding follower 28.

The ramp surface 38A and its associated abutment surface 40A are formedon a projection of the helical winding 34 of the first threaded element26 that projects from the nominal surface of the helical winding 34 inthe axial direction away from the respective end of the first threadedelement 26 to which the base component 24 is connected. The ramp surface38B and its associated abutment surface 40B are formed on a projectionof the helical winding 34 of the first threaded element 26 that projectsin the axial direction toward the respective end of the first threadedelement 26 at which the base component 24 is mounted. Each of the rampsurfaces 38A, 38B increases at a constant slope from its base to itspeak as viewed in the advancing direction of the winding follower 28along the helical recess 36 of the first threaded element 26. Eachabutment surface 40A, 40 b is in the form of a planar surface extendingparallel to the axis 32 of the first threaded element 26 and extendingfrom the peak of the respective ramp surface 38A, 38B with which theabutment surface is associated to the nominal surface of the helicalwinding 34 of the first threaded element 26.

The ramp surfaces 38A, 38B guide therebetween the winding follower 28such that the winding follower 28 passes through the nip thus formedbetween the ramp surfaces 38A, 38B. The ramp surfaces 38A, 38B arepreferably axially spaced from one another at a predetermined nipspacing, measured at their opposed peaks, slightly less than the axiallydimension of the winding follower 28 such that the ramp surfaces 38A,38B are slightly oppositely axially deflected as the winding follower 28passes through the nip defined by the opposed peaks of the ramp surfaces38A, 38B. The configuration of the ramp surfaces 38A, 38B in this mannerwill provide a tactile indication to the appliance consumer or installerthat the winding follower 28 has reached the end of its predeterminedextent of travel along the helical recess 36 of the first threadedelement 26 for the reason that the appliance consumer or installer willexperience a temporary increase in the resistance to rotation of thefirst threaded element 26 as the winding follower 28 passes through thenip defined by the opposed peaks of the ramp surfaces 38A, 38B.

The winding follower 28 is preferably integrally formed with the bottomtray 12, whereupon, for example, with respect to the embodiment of thestand off adjustment apparatus of the present invention shown in FIGS.1-7, the bottom tray 12 is formed of a metal sheet and the windingfollower 28 is formed from the metal sheet as a generally triangularprojection that projects radially inwardly into a bore 44 in the bottomtray 12 that has a diameter slightly larger than the diameter of thefirst threaded element 26. With further reference to FIG. 6, this figureof the drawings shows the threaded engagement of the first threadedelement 26 and the winding follower 28 of the embodiment of the standoff adjustment apparatus of the present invention and, moreparticularly, this figure of the drawings shows the travel of thewinding follower 28 along the helical recess 34 of the first threadedelement 26 at a time when the winding follower 28 is traveling betweenthe pair of oppositely disposed ramp surfaces 38A, 38B of the blockingmember 30. The rotation of the first threaded element 26 relative to theassociated corner of the bottom tray 12 may be effected manually or,alternatively, may be effected with the assistance of a tool such as,for example, a socket wrench, whereupon, in such event, the basecomponent 24 can be configured with a nut-like formation 45 including aplurality of planar surfaces 44 that collectively form a conventionalgripping surface for a socket of a predetermined geometry. The axial endof the first threaded element 26 opposite to the end integrally formedwith the base component 24 can be provided with a plurality of planarsurfaces 46 that collectively form a conventional gripping surface for asocket of a predetermined geometry and these planar surfaces 46 can beprovided in lieu of the planar surfaces 44 of the base component 24 orin addition thereto.

Reference is now had to FIG. 7, which is an enlarged perspective view ofthe threaded engagement of the first threaded element 26 and the windingfollower 28 of the embodiment of the stand off adjustment apparatus 22of the present invention shown in FIGS. 1-5 and showing the windingfollower 28 after it has traveled beyond the abutment surfaces 40A, 40Bof the blocking member 30 as an engagement movement is concluded. It canbe appreciated that the pair of abutment surfaces 40A, 40B will engagethe winding follower 28 to resist retreating travel of the windingfollower 28.

The pair of oppositely disposed ramp surfaces 38A, 38B and the pair ofabutment surfaces 40A, 40B of the blocking member 30 are preferablyprovided on the respective extent of the helical winding 34 of the firstthreaded engagement element 26 between the top termination point of thehelical winding 34 and the location on the helical winding 34 at whichthe helical winding has wound one complete revolution around the firstthreaded engagement element 26—in other words, the respective extent ofthe helical winding 34 that forms the so-called “first winding” of thehelical winding. However, in accordance with the individualconfiguration of the free standing range 10 or other appliance withwhich the inventive stand off adjustment apparatus is deployed, the pairof oppositely disposed ramp surfaces 38A, 38B and the pair of abutmentsurfaces 40A, 40B of the blocking member 30 can be located at anothersuitable winding location of the helical winding 34.

The first threaded element 26 is preferably made of plastic, morepreferably, glass filled nylon, of a structural strength sufficient toresist unacceptable deflection under load during the threadedinterengagement of the first threaded element 26 and the windingfollower 28. In this connection, the configuration of the stand offadjustment apparatus 22 should take into account the load that will beimposed by the free standing range 10 or other appliance. For example,an appliance may have an overall weight such that each of the respectivefour stand off adjustment apparatus 22 provided to support the applianceon the floor 14 is individually subjected to a load of two hundredpounds (200 lbs). Furthermore, it may be desirable that each stand offadjustment apparatus 22 is configured to reliably support apredetermined maximum load value that is the sum or total of (a) theactual load that will be imposed on the stand off adjustment apparatus22 and (b) a safety margin. The safety margin can be selected, forexample, as a percentage of the actual load that will be imposed on thestand off adjustment apparatus 22. Thus, in the event that the freestanding range 10 has an overall weight such that each of the respectivefour stand off adjustment apparatus 22 is individually subjected to aload of two hundred pounds (200 lbs), and, further, if it is determinedthat a safety margin corresponding to ten percent (10%) of the actualload of two hundred pounds (200 lbs) is to be applied, then each standoff adjustment apparatus 22 should be configured to reliably support apredetermined maximum load value of two hundred and twenty pounds (220lbs), as this predetermined maximum load value of two hundred and twentypounds (220 lbs) is the sum or total of (a) the actual load two hundredpounds (200 lbs) that will be imposed on the stand off adjustmentapparatus 22 and (b) the safety margin corresponding to ten percent(10%) of the actual load of two hundred pounds (200 lbs).

Reference is now had to FIG. 8 for a description of another embodimentof the stand off adjustment apparatus of the present invention,hereinafter designated as the stand off adjustment apparatus 122. FIG. 8is an enlarged perspective view of the bottom tray 12 of the freestanding range 10 showing one unit of the stand off adjustment apparatus122 in its operative position at a respective corner 18 of the bottomtray 12, there being a total of four (4) units of the stand offadjustment apparatus 122 that form the respective stand off adjustmentapparatus group for the free standing range 10. The stand off adjustmentapparatus 122 includes a base component 124, a first threaded element126, a winding follower 128, and a blocking member 130. The blockingmember 130 is configured on the first threaded element 126 and includesa transverse surface extending transverse to the travel path of thewinding follower 128 along a helical recess 136 of the first threadedelement 126. The transverse surface of the blocking member 130 engagesthe winding follower 128 to resist retreating travel of the windingfollower 128 along the helical recess 136 of the first threaded element126 and, in the embodiment of the stand off adjustment apparatus 122shown in FIG. 8, the blocking member 130 includes a ramp surface 138 andits associated abutment surface 140 formed on a projection of thehelical winding 134 of the first threaded element 126 that projects fromthe nominal surface of the helical winding 134 in the axial directiontoward the respective end of the first threaded element 126 to which thebase component 124 is connected. The abutment surface 140 forms thetransverse surface of the blocking member 130 that engages the windingfollower 128 to resist retreating travel of the winding follower 128.

Having thus generally described the invention, the same will becomebetter understood from the appended claims from which it is set forth ina non-limiting manner.

1. An apparatus for setting the spacing of a free standing range from afloor, the free standing range having an aperture for threaded mountingof the apparatus, the floor spacing setting apparatus comprising: a bolthaving threads with the threads delimiting a helical path; a foot at oneend of the bolt for resting on the floor; a winding follower thatthreads onto the bolt when the bolt is rotated into the aperture of thefree standing range; and only a single nip formed on the bolt, thesingle nip being formed between the threads of the bolt at a singlelocation of the helical path through which the winding follower passesas the bolt is rotated into the aperture of the free standing range,whereby, once the winding follower and the bolt have been threadedtogether, the bolt can then only be unthreaded from the free standingrange by guiding the winding follower through the nip wherein thewinding follower is a second threaded element having a radiallyprojecting winding having an overall helical shape and a helical recessformed by the radially projecting winding that are configuredcomplementarily with the radially projecting winding and helical recessof the first threaded element such that the radially projecting windingof each of the first and second threaded elements extends into thehelical recess of the other of the first and second threaded elementsfor threaded engagement of the first threaded element and the secondthreaded element with one another.
 2. An apparatus for setting thespacing of an appliance from a stand off surface, the apparatuscomprising: a base component for contacting the stand off surface; afirst threaded element having an axis, a radially projecting windinghaving an overall helical shape, and a helical recess formed by theradially projecting winding; a winding follower, the first threadedelement being connectable to a selected one of the appliance and thebase component and the winding follower being connectable to the otherof the appliance and the base component and the winding followerextending into the helical recess of the first threaded element suchthat the winding follower travels progressively further along thehelical recess of the first threaded element during an engagementmovement in which the winding follower and the first threaded elementare rotated relative to one another and retreats progressively along thehelical recess of the first threaded element during a disengagementmovement in which the winding follower and the first threaded elementare rotated relative to one another in a direction opposite to theirrelative rotation during an engagement movement; and a blocking memberfor engaging the winding follower during travel of the winding followeralong the helical recess of the first threaded element to resist atleast one of an engagement movement and a disengagement movement withthe blocking member and the winding follower cooperating with oneanother to resist an engagement movement in a different manner than theblocking member and the winding follower cooperate with one another toresist a disengagement movement wherein the blocking member includes atransverse surface extending transverse to the travel path of thewinding follower along the helical recess of the first threaded element,the transverse surface of the blocking member for engaging the windingfollower to resist retreating travel of the winding follower along thehelical recess of the first threaded element wherein the blocking memberincludes a pair of ramp surfaces disposed oppositely to one another at alocation along the helical recess of the first threaded element, eachramp surface extending, as viewed in the travel direction of the windingfollower during an engagement movement, increasingly toward the otheropposed ramp surface such that the extent of the helical recess of thefirst threaded element transverse to its helical direction between theopposed ramp surfaces is progressively reduced and the transversesurface of the blocking member is disposed downstream of the opposedramp surfaces as viewed in the travel direction of the winding followerduring an engagement movement, whereby, during an engagement movement,the winding follower travels successively past the ramp surface and thenpast the transverse surface and, thereafter, during a disengagementmovement effecting retreating travel of the travel follower, the windingfollower is engaged by the transverse surface to resist retreatingtravel of the winding follower along the helical recess of the firstthreaded element wherein the transverse surface of the blocking memberis formed by a pair of abutment surfaces, each abutment surface forminga reverse inclination slope with respect to a respective one of the pairof ramp surfaces.